The most stylish movies of all time

There's six decades between these movies but they all have one thing in common: iconic style

Andaz (1949) This one harks back to a time when girls were ladies, boys were gentlemen and a good suit was indispensable. A suave Dilip Kumar and a well-dressed Raj Kapoor perfectly complement the gorgeous Nargis, their shared love interest.

North By Northwest (1959) The unbeatably stylish Cary Grant proves that if there’s one suit that can take you through any situation – and through an entire film – it’s got to be a three-button grey suit with a roll-over lapel and a ventless back. A classic.

8 ½ (1963) Marcello Mastroianni is Italy’s answer to Cary Grant, and 8½ is a masterclass in Italian style — summarized by a sharp black suit, white shirt and black tie, all by Brioni.

A Hard Day’s Night (1964) The Beatles and their mod look are inseparable, even if they started off as rockers: slim tailoring, skinny black knit ties, zip-up boots and short-cropped turtlenecks – all of which have returned to favour since the Nineties.

Jewel Thief (1967) The look for this film was defined by sharp suits, checked shirts, boutonnieres and a houndstooth hat. Add to that Dev Anand’s languid saunter, his trademark sideways glance and flirtatious smile, and this slick crime thriller almost turns into a homage to James Bond.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Steve McQueen, the king of cool, rocked some impeccably-cut three-piece suits in this one. The Nineties remake had its moments, sure, but when it comes to class and elegance, McQueen trumps Brosnan.

Johnny Mera Naam (1970) Long before Johnny Depp rocked the neckerchief, Dev Anand was doing it. Even more salient was his nonchalant swagger.

Get Carter (1971) Michael Caine lent a polished (and menacing) touch to gangster style. Watch to learn how to work a slick double-breasted jacket with Thirties-style high-waisted trousers.

Bobby (1973) Sharp blazers, striped ties, a leather jacket and skinny turtlenecks – Rishi Kapoor is all pedigreed polish in this iconic film. There’s a reason we’re not mentioning a young Dimple Kapadia – that could take up an entire issue.

The Great Gatsby (1974) F Scott Fitzgerald’s tragic tale of the love between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan is set in the Roaring Twenties, a period of great excesses. This one’s a must-watch to experience the depravation and decay of the Jazz Age, complete with greed, lust, murder – and Ralph Lauren’s terrific menswear.

Don (1978) Don is the ultimate fashion reference point for the Seventies, with its wide-lapel three-piece suits, flared trousers, a bow tie or two and yellow tinted sunglasses – pulled off in a way only Amitabh Bachchan could manage. In comparison, the 2006 remake of the film doesn’t quite cut it.

American Gigolo (1980) The story of an up-and-coming designer called Giorgio Armani, who dressed a strapping young actor named Richard Gere. The rest is the stuff of fashion legend.

Wall Street (1987) Alan Flusser crafted the perfect look for the successful but ruthless Gordon Gekko: sharp jackets, contrastcollar shirts, pleated pants, neckties and braces. An anti-hero has never been so hard to hate.

Mr India (1987) A normally vanilla look – cotton shirt and chinos – got an upgrade with a tweed blazer and bucket hat. Mr India may have been broke, but he certainly was stylish.

Dil Chahta Hai (2001) A new set of attitudes for the new millennium, this film wore its liberalism on its sleeve. Trendy casual wear and devil-may-care attitudes completed the look.

Parineeta (2005) A crisp kurta with an embroidered shawl draped over one shoulder – worn as only a Nawab could. This period film is restrained elegance at its best.

Quantum Of Solace (2008) Yes, Bond’s always stylish. Very stylish. So why do we name check this particular film? The answer is simple: Tom Ford.